Though the city doesn’t have any more budget to help us out with planting trees in our neighborhood, the state does have a program where you can get a $25 off coupon for the tree of your choice from the following places -

Family Tree Re-Wholesale Nursery
9915 Garis Shop Rd.
Hagerstown, MD 21740
301-745-4222
Snavely’s Garden Corner
19719 Leitersburg Pike
Hagerstown, MD 21742
301-739-3622

More information can be found here http://www.trees.maryland.gov/ or below:

Before Planting Your Tree

Planting the Right Tree, in the Right Place, for the Right Reason and in the Right Way will be good for you, the tree, and for Maryland.

Contact MISS UTILITY at 1-800-257-7777 for assistance in locating underground utilities before you dig the planting hole.

Planting Your Tree

Now that you are ready to put your tree in the ground, below you will find some information on how to plant your tree properly. Putting effort into proper techniques allows your tree to grow healthy and strong to provide the many benefits for which you planted your tree(s). You will also prevent long term problems such as excessive lean, branches dying back, and roots and branches being girdled. Some trees can live to be 80-100 years old or more. The steps you take today can have lasting effects throughout its lifetime. As the saying goes “it is better to plant a $10 tree in a $100 hole than a $100 tree in a $10 hole”.

1. Dig hole 2-3 times as wide as container or root ball.
2. Dig hole no deeper than height of new tree’s root ball. Top of root ball should be level or slightly above soil surface. Better 1” too high – than 1” too low!
3. Remove container, cut large and circling roots. Gently pull and loosen outside roots from the root ball.
4. Place tree in prepared hole, being sure the tree is straight up and centered in the hole.
5. Do not add soil amendments such as manure, fertilizer or peat moss.
6. Backfill hole with original soil, breaking up clumps and tamping firmly as you go. Do not tamp on the roots, only around the roots. Remove soil from grass clumps. Do not replace grass in hole.
7. Apply 4” of mulch to entire disturbed area. Do not let mulch touch the tree trunk.
8. After tree is planted, water to settle soil and minimize large air pockets.

Mulching

• Retains soil moisture
• Suppresses weed growth
• Moderates soil temperatures
• Improves soil fertility
• Eliminates need for mowing and weed trimming around base of trees

Apply 4″ of mulch evenly to the entire disturbed surface area around the tree. Avoid mounding mulch. Keep the mulch 2” clear of trunk to avoid creating favorable places for pests and rotting of bark.

Watering

Water for recently planted trees is essential! Some water is better than none, but 3-5 gallons a week, if it doesn’t rain, is ideal. Water slowly to avoid runoff.

Browning, wilting, scorch, and dieback are most often caused by lack of water. Don’t wait for signs of moisture stress to show before watering.

Fertilizing

You may begin to fertilize your trees the second year after planting to improve growth rate and density of foliage. Apply slow release fertilizer late September to early November. Broadcast about ¼ lb of 33-0-0 (nitrogen) per 5’x5’ area from the trunk outward. Or apply a balanced fertilizer (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and micronutrients) according to the manufacturer’s label. Remember, too much fertilizer will injure your tree!

Choose a Tree

When selecting a tree to plant, consider:

• Is there enough space for the tree to grow?
• How much space is available for the tree when it reaches its mature height, width and depth?
• Look at nearby buildings, trees, plants, sidewalks and roads that may not allow the tree to grow tall and wide as it matures.
• Check for overhead and underground utilities.
• How much sunlight is available for the new tree? Is the tree shade tolerant or shade intolerant? A tree that is shade tolerant doesn’t mind competition from other trees and buildings. A tree that is shade intolerant needs full sunlight to grow properly.
• Do you want a fast growing or slowing growing tree? A fast-growing tree will fill a vacant spot more quickly. A slow-growing tree to replace an older tree when it matures and dies or becomes too big for the site.
• Is there enough water available at the site for the new tree? Once established, native trees are considered more adaptable to Maryland’s climate conditions.
• What is the purpose of the tree? Beauty, shade, wildlife habitat, increased property value, reducing erosion? Consider the color of the leaves in the spring and fall, flower shapes, and bark texture.

• If you plan to use a coupon, is your tree on the eligible list?

Recommended Tree List for Marylanders Plant Trees

If you plan to use a Marylanders Plant Trees coupon please check if the tree you want to plant is on the eligible list below.

This list may be updated periodically as interest and availability of native tree stock changes.

SMALL TREES

• CRABAPPLE SPP. (Malus spp.)
  Height: 15′-35′, Spread: 10′-25′. Small flowering trees valued for wildlife food and shelter. Produces a small fruit the size of a marble. Can be used in many types of landscape settings as they tolerate urban conditions well.
• DOGWOOD, ALTERNATE-LEAF/PAGODA (Cornus alternifolia)
  Height: 12’-15’, Spread: 10’-12’. Pagoda Dogwood is an excellent small tree or large shrub that can be grown either as a single or multi-trunked specimen. General crown form is oval to round but it has a unique horizontally layered branching structure which accounts for its common name. It has flat clusters of small white flowers in spring. Fruit are small blue-black berries that are readily eaten by birds. The fall foliage color is a deep burgundy. Does well in either full sun or shade. Does not tolerate hot dry sites.
• DOGWOOD, AMERICAN FLOWERING (Cornus florida)
  Height: 20′, Spread: 15′-20′. Small tree with flat topped crown. Place in well drained soil. Full sun to partial shade. Has character in all four seasons. Excellent as specimen tree or used on the corner of a house. Bright red berries are an important food source for songbirds including evening grosbeak, cardinals, robins and cedar waxwings.
• FRINGETREE, WHITE (Chionanthus virginicus)
  Height: 12′-20′, Spread: same. Slowing-growing tree that prefers moist, fertile soils and full sun. Excellent specimen tree or in groups, borders or near large buildings. Limited wildlife value.
• HAWTHORN, WASHINGTON (Crataegus phaenopyrum)
  Height: 25′-30′, Spread: 20′-25′. Broadly rounded to oval, dense, thorny tree. Plant in well drained soil in full sun. Excellent specimen tree or for borders and hedges. Tolerates severe urban stresses. Has attractive flowers, fruits, and foliage. Should not be used in high traffic areas. Dense thorns make excellent nesting sites for songbirds. Fruit is used by grouse.
• HAWTHORN, GREEN (Crataegus viridis)
  Height 20’-35’ Spread: same. Rounded crown. Sharply thorny. Flowers are white and fall foliage a purple to scarlet color. The fruit is bright red and persistent into winter.
• HOLLY, AMERICAN (Ilex opaca)
  Height: 15′-30′, Spread: 18′-25′. Dense, pyramidal in youth, opening up with age. Plant in moist, well drained soil. Full sun or partial shade. Use one male for every three females. Use as specimen plant or in groupings. Many cultivars. Used extensively by many songbirds including thrushes, mockingbirds, catbirds, bluebirds and thrashers. Foliage provides cover for songbirds and mammals.
• HOPHORNBEAM/IRONWOOD (Ostrya virginiana)
  Height: 30’-50’, Spread: 25’ Hophornbeam has a lovely yellow fall color, and the small nutlets, which ripen in summer and fall, are used by birds and mammals during the winter. Bark is an attractive orange or grayish brown peeling off in longitudinal strips.
• MAGNOLIA, SWEETBAY (Magnolia virginiana)
  Multistemmed, small tree or open shrub. Likes wet, acid soils. Tolerates shade. Used as specimen tree. White to cream colored flowers that have a strong lemon and rose-scented smell. Wildlife value is low. Seeds are eaten by some mammals and birds. Foliage is used by several birds for nest building.
• PAWPAW (Asimina triloba)
  A shrub or small tree that tolerates shade, pawpaw produces a fruit that is readily eaten by wildlife. Flowers open greenish-brown and become deep red.
• REDBUD, EASTERN (Cercis canadensis)
  Height: 20′-30′, Spread: 25′-30′. Small tree with rounded crown, pink to purplish flowers in early spring. Heart-shaped leaves are reddish at emergence, become dark green, then yellow in the fall. Likes moist, well drained soils. Full sun to light shade. Can be used as a street, yard, or border tree. Requires little pruning after lower branches have been removed for clearance. Limited wildlife value.
• SERVICEBERRY or SHADBLOW (Amelanchier canadensis)
  Height: 6′-20′, Spread: 10′-15′. Erect stems, often clumped. These small trees have attractive bark, flowers, and fruit. White flower. Beautiful orange to red autumn color. Requires little or no maintenance. Important berry producer during the early summer months. Blue-black fruit is eaten by bluebirds, cardinals, and tanagers. Foliage is used by browsers.
• SERVICEBERRY, ALLEGHENY (Amelanchier laevis)
  Height: 30’-40’, Spread: 15’-20’. Multiple stems are upright and highly branched forming a dense shrub, or if properly pruned a small tree. The tree is short-lived, has a rapid growth rate, and can be used as a filler plant or to attract birds. The main ornamental feature is the white flowers borne in drooping clusters in mid spring. The purplish black berries are sweet and juicy but are soon eaten by birds. The fall color is yellow to red. It is well adapted for planting beneath power lines due to its small size.
• SERVICEBERRY, DOWNY (Amelanchier arborea)
  Height 15’-25’ Spread: up to 35’ Typically multi-stemmed. A beautiful orange leaf in the fall. Flowers white and in upright clusters. Fruit is preferred by birds. Fruit is sweet and edible.

LARGE TREES

• BALDCYPRESS, COMMON (Taxodium distichum)
  Height 50′-70′, spread 20′-30′. This lofty, deciduous (loses its leaves in the fall) conifer (small round cones at the end of twigs) is very tolerant to typical urban conditions as well as wet areas. Its slender pyramidal form, beautiful leaf texture, attractive bark and fast growing habit make this a worthwhile tree to plant. Bright green spring leaves ½” – ¾” turn soft sage green in summer, and pale orange in autumn before dropping. “Cypress knees” occur only in or near water.
• BEECH, AMERICAN (Fagus grandifolia)
  Height: 50′-100′, Spread: 50′-70′. Often has short trunk with wide spreading crown. Likes moist, well drained soils. Does best in full sun, but tolerates shade. Should be restricted to large area use for parks and estates. Beechnuts are eaten by birds and mammals and are important food for chipmunks and squirrels.
• BIRCH, RIVER (Betula nigra)
  Height: 40′-70′, Spread: 40′-60′. Pyramidal in youth and rounded with age. Often grown multistemmed. Best adapted to moist soils. Handsome tree used as specimen in parks and lawns. Catkins are used by redpolls and pine siskins. Foliage is used by browsers.
• ELM, AMERICAN (Ulmus Americana)
  Height 60′-80′, spread 50′-80′. This large, graceful, spreading, medium to fast growing tree can reach to a height of 80 feet. It is well suited to lawns and urban landscapes. It prefers deep, rich soils, but grows well in a variety of conditions and is pH and salt tolerant.
• HACKBERRY (Celtis occidentalis)
  Height: 40′-60′, Spread same. In youth weakly pyramidal; in old age the crown is a broad top of ascending, arching branches. Medium to fast growth. Prefers rich, moist soils, but grows in dry, heavy or sandy, rocky soils; withstands acid or alkaline conditions; moderately wet or very dry areas; tolerates wind; full sun; withstands dirt and grime of cities. Fruit is fleshy, orange to dark purple, ripening in September to October. Leaves are yellow to yellow-green in fall. Good tree for park or large area use. Useful tree for adverse growing conditions. Fruit is popular with winter birds, especially the cedar waxwing, mockingbird, and robin.
• HEMLOCK, EASTERN (Tsuga canadensis)
  Height: 40′-70′, Spread: 25′-35′. Pyramidal in youth, becoming more pendulous with age. Likes moist, well-drained soils. Plant in sheltered area. Tolerates shade. Relatively fast growing. Excellent for screens, hedges, accent plant and foundation plantings. Provides excellent cover for deer and songbirds. Nesting site for several warblers. Seeds are eaten by juncos, chickadees, and siskins.
• HONEYLOCUST (Gleditsia triacanthos)
  height: 30′-70′, Spread: same. Usually has short trunk with open, oval crown. Transplants readily. Fast grower. Withstands a wide range of conditions but prefers rich, moist soil. Excellent lawn tree under filtered shade. Tolerates salt, heat, drought, compaction, and other adverse urban conditions. Limited wildlife value.
• LINDEN, AMERICAN (Tilia americana)
  Height: 50′-70′, Spread: 35′-50′. A fine shade tree for streets, parking lots, and large lawns. Prefers moist, fertile soil but will tolerate drier sites, Transplants readily.
• LOCUST, BLACK (Robinia pseudoacacia)
  Height: 50’-80’, Spread: 20’-35’ The upright growth and short, irregular branches form an open canopy and cast light shade below the tree, allowing a lawn to thrive. The leaves are some of the last to appear in spring and often drop early in the autumn. In late spring for a short time the trees have long, dense clusters of extremely fragrant, one-inch white blossoms which are literally “alive” with the bustling activity of visiting bees. The honey which is produced is quite delicious. The dark red to black, leathery seeds pods which follow will persist on the trees throughout the winter.
• MAGNOLIA, SOUTHERN (Magnolia grandiflora)
  Height: 60’ – 80’., Spread: 30’ – 50’. Can be a very large, handsome, yard tree. Needs plenty of room to grow. Leaves are leathery and dark green above. Flowers are creamy white and have a pleasant fragrance. Seeds grow in a “cone” and are a beautiful red.
• MAPLE, RED (Acer rubrum)
  Height: 40′-60′, Spread: same. Medium to fast grower. Excellent tree as specimen for lawn and park settings. Excellent fall color. Good shade tree. Buds, flowers and leaves provide food for many birds and mammals. Chipmunks and squirrels eat seeds and some songbirds use stalks for nest building.
• MAPLE, SUGAR (Acer saccharum)
  Height 60′-70′, spread usually 2/3 the height. Leaf color is medium to dark green in summer changing to brilliant yellow, burnt orange and red tones in autumn. It grows best in well-drained moderately moist, fertile soil. It does not grow well in tight, compacted situations such as in very small lawns or other conditions that restrict root growth. It tolerates shade but does not tolerate air pollution and is susceptible to damage from road salt.
• OAK, CHESTNUT (Quercus prinus)
  Chestnut oak commonly reaches 60 to 80 feet at maturity and grows better on dry and poor sites than other oaks. Acorn is a favorite food of deer, turkey and squirrels.
• OAK, NORTHERN RED (Quercus rubra)
  Height: 60′-80′, Spread: 45′-65′. Habit is round-topped and symmetrical. Full sun. Prefers loamy, well drained soils. Fast growing tree for lawns, parks and estates. Acorns are at the top of the food preference list for wood ducks, pheasants, grackles, jays, nuthatches, thrushes, woodpeckers, rabbits, foxes, squirrels and deer.
• OAK, PIN (Quercus palustris)
  Height: 60′-70′, Spread: 25′-40′. Strongly pyramidal with ascending branches. One of the faster growing oaks. Full sun. Tolerates wet soils but is adaptable to many soils types. Most widely used oak for landscaping. Used on lawns, parks, golf courses and around commercial buildings. Acorns are at the top of the food preference list for wood ducks, pheasants, grackles, jays, nuthatches, thrushes, woodpeckers, rabbits, foxes, squirrels and deer.
• OAK, SWAMP WHITE (Quercus bicolor)
  Height: 60′-80′, Spread: 50′-80′. Swamp white oak tolerates salt, drought and soil compaction in urban environments. It is transplanted more readily than most other white oaks. The acorns are eaten by a wide variety of wildlife.
• OAK, WHITE (Quercus alba)
  Height: 80′-100′, Spread; 50′-80′. Classic oak form with strong branches. Pyramidal in youth, becoming broad and rounded with wide spreading branches. Transplant as small tree. Prefers moist, well drained soils. Difficult to obtain from nurseries. Sometimes available as seedling. Worthwhile tree for large areas. Acorns are at the top of the food preference list for wood ducks, pheasants, grackles, jays, nuthatches, thrushes, woodpeckers, rabbits, foxes, squirrels and deer.
• OAK, WILLOW (Quercus phellos)
  Height: 50′-100′, Spread 30′-70′. Fast growing oak with willow-like foliage. Transplants more successfully than most oaks, and becomes established quickly. Good shade tree. Full sun or semi-shade. Easily grown in wet soils. Acorns are at the top of the food preference list for wood ducks, pheasants, grackles, jays, nuthatches, thrushes, woodpeckers, rabbits, foxes, squirrels and deer.
• PERSIMMON (Diospyros virginiana)
  Height: 20′-60′, Spread: 50′-80′. Produces fruit that is a valued wildlife food.
• PINE, EASTERN WHITE (Pinus strobus)
  Height: 50′-80′+, Spread: 20′-40′. Pyramidal in youth, crown at maturity has several horizontal and ascending branches. Fast grower. Grows best on fertile, well-drained soils, but is very adaptable. A very handsome and ornamental specimen, valuable for lawns, parks, and estates. Provides valuable cover and nesting sites for songbirds and mammals. Needles are used as nesting material. Seeds are eaten by quail, chickadees, grosbeaks, nuthatches and woodpeckers.
• PINE, LOBLOLLY (Pinus taeda)
  Height: 80′-100′, Spread: 25′-35′. Usually has a tall straight trunk free of branches on lower portions of the tree. Often are used as shade trees and for wind and noise barriers.
• PINE, VIRGINIA (Pinus virginiana)
  Height: 50′-80′, Spread: 25′-35′. Grows in thick stands on dry and sterile soils. Often are used as shade trees and for wind and noise barriers.
• POPLAR, TULIP (Liriodendron tulipifera)
  Height: 70′-120′, Spread: 30′-50′. Long, straight trunk with a narrow canopy. Fast grower. Plant in full sun and a well drained loam. Use in large areas. Can be used where a very large tree is desired, such as a broad boulevard, wide tree lawns near tall buildings, or in parks. Moderate wildlife importance. The purple finch and cardinal are principal users.
• REDCEDAR, EASTERN (Juniperus virginiana)
  Height: 40′-50′, Spread: 8′-20′. Medium rate of growth. Tolerant of adverse conditions. Prefers deep, moist soils. Will tolerate shade only in youth. Handsome reddish brown bark. Produces small cones. Good ornamental that is also useful for windbreaks, shelter belts, hedges and topiary work. Twigs and foliage are eaten by browsers. Seeds are eaten most extensively by cedar waxwings. Evergreen foliage provides nesting and roosting cover for sparrows, robins, mockingbirds, juncos, and warblers.
• SOURWOOD (Oxydendrom arboretum)
  Height 25’-30’ with pyramidal shape when young, drooping branches covered with fragrant white flowers resembling lily-of-the-valley in late spring. Also knows as sorrel tree and lily of the valley tree. Prefers moist, well-drained, acid soil in full sun to part shade, but is adaptable. Interesting bark, glossy green leaves turning vibrant red in fall. Wildlife value for honeybees and songbirds.
• SWEETGUM, AMERICAN (Liquidambar styraciflua)
  Height: 60′-80′, Spread: 2/3 height. Pyramidal in youth, rounded crown at maturity. Likes deep, moist, acid soils. Occurs naturally on bottomlands. Excellent for lawn or park area. Gumballs can be a problem in lawn settings. Goldfinches and purple finches eat winged seeds.
• SYCAMORE (Platanus occidentalis)
  Height: 80′-130′, Spread: 50′-80′. Sycamore is used for watershed protection since it can be planted on wet sites.
• TUPELO or GUM, BLACK (Nyssa sylvatica)
  Height: 30′-70′, Spread: 30′-45′. Pyramidal in youth and irregularly crowned at maturity. Prefers moist, well drained, acid soils. Full sun or semi-shade. Deep taproot. Spectacular fall colors make it a fine choice as a street tree in residential areas. Tolerates seacoast conditions. Fruit is relished by many songbirds. Users include wood ducks, robins, woodpeckers, thrashers, flickers, and mockingbirds.
• WALNUT, BLACK (Juglans nigra)
  Height: 50′-75′, Spread: same. Well formed trunk with oval crown. Prefers rich, moist soils. Difficult to transplant so should be started as a seedling. Roots produce toxins which are poisonous to many plants so do not plant near fruit trees or gardens. Nuts are eaten by woodpeckers, foxes, and squirrels.

Some of the Safety Issues brought up at our previous meetings -

• Safe Crossing of Virginia Avenue to the City Park
• Excessive Speeding On Summit Avenue
• Limited Visibility at the intersection of Reynolds Avenue and Summit Avenue
• Prostitution in the City Park
• Panhandling at the County Commuter Stop
• Dark Alleyways
• Over grown Bushes Limiting Visibility turning out of Alleyways
• Late Night Loitering

Please feel free to add additional concerns on the website or contact me or Laurel via the Contacts Page.

Please place your safety concerns for the neighborhood here -

You may click the number in the graphic to make a comment if you do not have an account. If you would like an account to make your own posts please click “Register” here or on the left menu. If you need help creating an account or would like to submit information for me to post please contact me @ heather@historiccitypark.com! You may add your own posts once your account is validated (to control spam),

We could also incorporate these with Laurel’s idea of hanging flower pots.

Please post your beautication ideas here! You may click the number in the  graphic to make a comment if you do not have an account. If you would like an account to make your own posts please click “Register” here or on the left menu.  If you need help creating an account or would like to submit information for me to post please contact me @ heather@historiccitypark.com!

Hagerstown Code Compliance Information:

Thank you for joining in our efforts to keep Hagerstown a great place to live, work and visit.  The City of Hagerstown will be a prosperous and growing community with an environment and culture conducive to voluntary code compliance.

Mission Statement

The Code Compliance Team shall keep the City of Hagerstown the location of choice for residents, businesses, and visitors by:

• Inviting everyone to join in our efforts to improve the quality of our neighborhoods
• Seeking out properties in violation
• Working with the responsible parties to ensure the abatement of violations
• Holding firmly accountable those who not to comply with the City Code

About the Code Compliance Team:

The Code Compliance Team improves the quality of all housing stock, commercial structures and investment properties. In addition to our many proactive programs , citizens may contact inspectors regarding property maintenance issues. Each inspector is responsible for one of six zones in the City. Our team works with property owners to ensure the abatement of code violations by maintaining reasonable, flexible abatement timelines, providing feedback at re-inspections, and remaining knowledgeable about property maintenance issues through continuous training and certifications. The City appreciates the high rate of voluntary code compliance we have received from property owners throughout the City. For the property owners who choose not to comply with the City Code, we maintain the right to enforce the City Code through municipal infraction citations and misdemeanor charges, and our inspectors often testify in court cases.

Contact Hagerstown Code Compliance:

Office of Code Compliance
11 Public Square, Suite 300
Hagerstown, MD 21740

Phone: (301) 739-8577 Ext. 194
Fax: (301) 739-6322
Email: codecompliance@hagerstownmd.org

Full list of Hagerstown Codes Online:

http://www.ecode360.com/?custId=HA0191

SECTION 302

EXTERIOR PROPERTY AREAS

302.1 Sanitation. (10 days) All exterior property and premises shall be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition free from any accumulation of debris, rubbish, garbage, or implement and/or equipment or personal property of any kind whatsoever which is no longer usable for the purpose it was manufactured.  Exterior storage of appliances is prohibited. Exterior storage of unused construction materials is prohibited.  If any person allows such conditions to exist, he shall be guilty of a municipal infraction and a citation can be issued without prior notice of violation.  Rubbish and garbage in approved containers placed at curbside for removal during established hours shall be exempt from the provisions of this code.  PENALTY: $200 Municipal Infraction Citation.

302.2 Grading and drainage. (30 days) All premises shall be graded and maintained to prevent the erosion of soil, to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water thereon, to prevent unsafe holes in the soil, or within any structure located thereon.  PENALTY: $200 Municipal Infraction Citation.

Exception: Approved retention areas and reservoirs.

302.3 Sidewalks and driveways. (90 days) All sidewalks, walkways, stairs, driveways, parking spaces and similar areas shall be kept in a proper state of repair, and maintained free from hazardous conditions.  PENALTY: $200 Municipal Infraction Citation.

302.3.1 Nuisance Ice and Snow Conditions. (4 hours or 10 hours) All public sidewalks shall be maintained free from accumulations of ice and snow.  It shall be the responsibility of the abutting property owner to maintain a clear and unobstructed sidewalk for the width of the sidewalk or 48” which ever is less.  Within the City’s business district, the pedestrian areas must be maintained as above within four hours after the storms subsides; however, if the storm subsides between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., the deadline for compliance shall be extended to 9:00 a.m. following this time period.  In all other areas of the City, the pedestrian areas shall be maintained as above within 10 hours after the storm subsides.   Ice and snow conditions that remain unabated in excess of the above time restrictions are declared a nuisance and are subject to abatement by the City or its contractors.  All costs associated with the abatement of said nuisances shall be the responsibility of the property owner and be billed and collected as per the City Code.  If any person allows such conditions to exist he shall be guilty of a municipal infraction and a citation may be issued without prior warning.  PENALTY: $200 Municipal Infraction Citation.

For the purpose of this code section, the “business district” shall be defined as those properties located within the area bounded by Church Street and East Avenue to the north, Mulberry Street to the east, Baltimore Street to the south and Prospect Street to the west.  All properties adjacent to streets comprising the boundaries shall be considered within the business district.

302.4 Weeds. (10 days) All lots shall be maintained free from weeds in excess of ten (10) inches throughout the growing season.  Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation other than trees, shrubs or cultivated flowers and gardens.  All noxious weeds shall be prohibited.  Noxious weed shall be defined as any plant that is physically harmful to humans.  PENALTY: $200 Municipal Infraction Citation.

Exception: Where there is a non-residential parcel of land in excess of one acre in size, this section shall apply only to areas within ten feet (10) of any property line or public right-of-way.

302.4.1 Weeds – Specified Areas. (10 days) It shall be the responsibility and the obligation of the property owner and/or tenant to maintain any and all vegetation, including shrubs and weeds as noted hereinafter.  PENALTY: $200 Municipal Infraction Citation.

1.   The abutting property owner shall maintain all vegetation and weeds located within the public right-of-way and extending from at least two feet back of the inside walk line of the sidewalk to the curb or pavement edge on improved streets, avenues, highways, alleys, etc.  The height limit of vegetation and weeds in this area shall be maintained at less than six inches.

2.   The abutting property owner shall maintain all vegetation, including trees and weeds, to the center line of any and all watercourses or the edge of the water on streams which are normally flowing.  Height limit on weeds and grasses shall be maintained at a height less than 10 inches.

3.   On unimproved streets, alleys, or other right-of-ways (paper streets and alleys) the abutting property owner shall maintain all vegetation, grass cutting and weeds to the centerline of such right-of-ways.  Height limits for weeds and grasses shall be 10 inches.

4.   Where there is a large tract of undeveloped land adjoining the opposite side of the said unimproved right-of-way, the abutting property owner is then only responsible for maintaining six feet of the right-of-way from their common property line or right-of-way line.

5.  On all public sidewalks, the abutting property owner must maintain the sidewalk clear of any vegetation for the entire width of the sidewalk.  Vegetation shall include all grasses, weeds, shrubs, hedges, and similar plants, but not trees.

302.4.2 Trees and Shrubbery.  (10 days) PENALTY: $200 Municipal Infraction Citation.

1. Obstructed View. It shall be unlawful for any person to suffer, permit or allow any trees, shrubbery or hedge or any branches thereof which may be located on their property or located in or adjacent to any street, alley or other public right-of-way abutting their property to obstruct the view of the public using the right-of-way.

1. Public Health, Safety or Welfare. Trees and shrubbery shall be maintained so as not to pose a threat to public health, safety or welfare.  The responsibility for maintenance or removal shall be with the owner of the property on which the tree or bush is located.  The owner of property abutting any public street, alley, easement or right-of-way shall be responsible for maintenance or removal of trees and shrubs in or between his property and such Public Street, alley, easement or right-of-way.  The determination of the need for such maintenance or removal shall be vested in the code official.

1. Exception. This section shall not apply to street trees pursuant to Section 216-10 of the Code.

302.4.3 Height Requirements. (10 days) It shall be unlawful for any person to suffer or permit the limbs or foliage of any tree or shrub on his property to extend over any public sidewalk or pedestrian right-of-way at a height less than 7 feet from the ground or over a street or alley at a height less than 15 feet.  PENALTY: $200 Municipal Infraction Citation.

302.5 Harborage. (10 days) All structures shall be kept free from rodent and bird harborage and infestation. Where rodents are found, they shall be promptly exterminated by ap­proved processes which will not be injurious to human health. After extermination, proper precautions shall be taken to elimi­nate rodent harborage and prevent re-infestation.  Where birds are found any and all defects must be abated and / or modifications made to prevent such harborage.  All bird droppings shall be removed in a safe and sanitary manner.  PENALTY: $200 Municipal Infraction Citation.